On his new EP ‘Age of Illusions’, Common Saints turns his attention towards a familiar contemporary unease: the growing difficulty of knowing what is authentic in a culture increasingly shaped by technology, automation and mediated experience. The five-track collection approaches that subject through atmosphere, allowing its ideas to emerge gradually across a set of spacious, carefully produced songs.
Behind the project is London-based producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Charlie J Perry, whose previous work has established a distinctive meeting point between soul, psychedelia and cinematic pop. Warm instrumentation and layered arrangements give the EP an organic character, creating a deliberate contrast with its concerns about artificial intelligence and the mechanisation of creativity.
‘Illusions’ introduces the EP’s wider sense of doubt and disorientation. Throughout this opener, he doesn’t attempt to provide a comprehensive critique of technology, nor does he present the past as an uncomplicated ideal. Instead, the EP focuses on how rapid cultural change can affect individual perception, leaving people uncertain about what to trust and where to find meaning.
And that perspective is most effective when expressed through the music itself. Soulful melodies, restrained psychedelic elements and ambient detail create a reflective environment around the lyrics, giving us space to engage with the themes without being pushed towards a predetermined conclusion.
‘Stargaze’ broadens the project’s focus with its anti-war message. The song considers the persistence of violence and the frustration of feeling unable to influence decisions made at a distance. Its suggestion that humanity might gain perspective by looking beyond itself is sincere, though the track remains grounded by its recognition of political helplessness and repetition.
Across the EP, his production experience is evident in the control of space and texture. Individual elements are given room to register, helping the EP maintain a sense of clarity despite the scale of its subject matter.
Following ‘Cinema 3000’ and ‘Equinox’, this release feels like a logical continuation of the Common Saints project. It retains the warmth and breadth associated with his earlier work while placing greater emphasis on social and philosophical concerns.
‘Age of Illusions’ doesn’t seek to resolve the tensions it identifies. Instead, it offers a thoughtful response to them, suggesting that attention, creativity and connection may still provide some stability in an increasingly difficult-to-read world.